The duties and powers of the office of the attorney general include:<ref>[http://www.oag.state.va.us/About%20the%20Office/Respnsibilities.html ''Virginia Attorney General,'' "Responsibilities," accessed February 1, 2012]</ref>

*Provide legal advice and representation to the Governor and executive agencies, state boards and commissions, and institutions of higher education. The advice commonly includes help with personnel issues, contracts, purchasing, regulatory and real estate matters and the review of proposed legislation. The Office also represents those agencies in court.

*Provide legal advice and representation to the Governor and executive agencies, state boards and commissions, and institutions of higher education. The advice commonly includes help with personnel issues, contracts, purchasing, regulatory and real estate matters and the review of proposed legislation. The Office also represents those agencies in court.

*Provide written legal advice in the form of official opinions to members of the General Assembly and government officials.

*Provide written legal advice in the form of official opinions to members of the General Assembly and government officials.

Contents

The Attorney General of Virginia is a publicly elected executive official in the Virginia state government. The attorney general provides legal advice and representation for all state agencies. Additionally, the attorney general provides written legal advice in the form of official opinions to members of the General Assembly and government officials.

Authority

An Attorney General shall be elected by the qualified voters of the Commonwealth at the same time and for the same term as the Governor; and the fact of his election shall be ascertained in the same manner...

Qualifications

...No person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the office of Attorney General unless he is a citizen of the United States, has attained the age of thirty years, and has the qualifications required for a judge of a court of record...

U.S. citizen

at least 30 years old

is qualified to be a judge of a court of record in the state

Elections

Term limits

According to the state constitution, "There shall be no limit on the terms of the Attorney General."[1]

Vacancies

Duties

The duties and powers of the office of the attorney general include:[2]

Provide legal advice and representation to the Governor and executive agencies, state boards and commissions, and institutions of higher education. The advice commonly includes help with personnel issues, contracts, purchasing, regulatory and real estate matters and the review of proposed legislation. The Office also represents those agencies in court.

Provide written legal advice in the form of official opinions to members of the General Assembly and government officials.

Defend criminal convictions on appeal, and defend the state when prisoners sue concerning their incarceration.

Defend the constitutionality of state laws when they are challenged in court.

Enforce state laws that protect businesses and consumers when there are violations. Individual consumer complaints are usually handled by another agency.

Represent consumers in utility matters before the State Corporation Commission.

Campaign finance

In Virginia, the State Attorney General is responsible for all disciplinary matters of the state's campaign finance laws. The first step in filing a complaint is to file with the Virginia Board of Elections. The Board of Elections refers all campaign finance complaints to the Virginia Attorney General for prosecution. [4]